PREGNANT AND ON GUARD.

• Author: Lindemann, Alan R.
• Position: MEDICINE & HEALTH

"...There no longer is a differentiation between a 'normal' time and the time of COVID-19. The precautions that you will be taking now will be the precautions for a long time." EVEN THOUGH the world has been coping with COVID-19 for nearly two years, there still is a lot of confusion around the safety of getting pregnant and giving birth during the pandemic. Those who are pregnant wonder what the risks would be to their pregnancy should they become infected; if they can pass on the virus to their baby; and whether it is safe to get vaccinated while pregnant.

Though it is possible to have a healthy baby despite becoming infected with the virus, there is not a simple answer to the question of how COVID-19 will affect an infant if a mother contracts it while pregnant, or if a child becomes infected after birth.

Because there are no clear answers to how COVID-19 affects a baby before and after birth, it is important for pregnant women and the people they live with to protect themselves as much as possible from contracting the virus. This includes staying at home when you can, washing hands frequently (and not touching your face), and refraining from unnecessary travel and socializing.

According to the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, pregnant people have a higher likelihood of becoming seriously ill from the virus. Severe symptoms may lead to serious complications during and after pregnancy, including a higher risk of preterm birth, preeclampsia/eclampsia, heart problems, Cesarean birth, and postpartum hemorrhage. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has recommended vaccinations for pregnant people, as well as for those who are lactating. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and Society of Maternal-Fetal Medicine have made similar recommendations.

Though severe symptoms increase certain risks, the same research has shown that there is a low risk of transmitting COVID-19 from mother to child while pregnant. However, the babies of people who are infected with the virus may suffer from more complications before and after birth, including requiring admission to a neonatal intensive care unit.

The information that is available online about CO VTD-19 and pregnancy can be contradictory and therefore confusing. Any questions you have should be discussed in-depth with your obstetrician. Write down your questions in a notebook before your appointment, as it is easy to become distracted when you are in...